UF to break ground Friday for new residence hall

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida will break ground at 3 p.m. Feb. 14 for Cypress Hall, a new undergraduate residence hall near the corner of SW 13th Street and Museum Road.

Cypress Hall will increase the number of beds available to undergraduate students including those with higher levels of physical disability support needs, some of whom are veterans. The additional beds also will accommodate increased demand from first-time-in-college students, including the freshmen admitted each spring as part of the Innovation Academy.

Construction began last month with opening scheduled for fall 2015.

The projected cost of the facility is $20.5 million funded through a bond sale. Payment of the bond plus interest will be from rent revenue. The facility will house 255 undergraduate students. Up to 35 spaces can be modified to support students with higher levels of physical disability needs. These spaces will be added to an inventory of more than 70 spaces campuswide modified to accommodate students with disabilities. The facility is on track to be certified LEED Platinum.

Scheduled to speak at the groundbreaking are UF President Bernie Machen; Dave Kratzer, vice president for student affairs; Norb Dunkel, associate vice president for student affairs; Jim Gorske, assistant dean of students and director of the Disability Resource Center; and Elliot Grasso, president of the Inter-Residence Hall Association.